 | The Two Noble Kinsmen |  |
Scæna Septima.
Enter Palamon from the Bush.Pal.
About this hour my Cosen gave his faith
To visit me again, and with him bring
Two Swords, and two good Armors; If he fail
He's neither man, nor Soldier; When he left me
I did not think a week could have restor'd
My lost strength to me, I was grown so low,
And Crest-fal'n with my wants: I thank thee Arcite,
Thou art yet a fair Foe; And I feel my self
With this refreshing, able once again
To out-dure danger: To delay it longer
Would make the world think when it comes to hearing,
That I lay fatting like a Swine, to fight
And not a Soldier: Therefore this blest morning
Shall be the last; And that Sword he refuses,
If it but hold, I kill him with; 'tis Justice:
So love, and Fortune for me: O good morrow.
Enter Arcite with Armors and Swords.
Arc.
Good morrow noble kinsman,
Pal.
I have put you
To too much pains Sir.
Arc.
That too much fair Cosen,
Is but a debt to honor, and my duty.
Pal.
Would you were so in all Sir; I could wish ye
As kind a kinsman, as you force me find
A beneficiall foe, that my embraces
Might thank ye, not my blows.
Arc.
I shall think either
Well done, a noble recompence.
Pal.
Then I shall quit you.
Arc.
Defy me in these fair terms, and you show
More than a Mistris to me, no more anger
As you love any thing that's honorable:
We were not bred to talk man, when we are arm'd
And both upon our guards, then let our fury
Like meeting of two tides, fly strongly from us,
And then to whom the birthright of this Beauty
Truely pertains (without obbraidings, scorns,
Dispisings of our persons, and such powtings
Fitter for Girles and Schooleboyes) will be seen
And quickly, yours, or mine: Wilt please you arme Sir?
Or if you feel your self not fitting yet
And furnish'd with your old strength, I'll stay Cosen
And ev'ry day discourse you into health,
As I'm spar'd, your person I'm friends with
And I could wish I had not said I lov'd her
Though I had did; But loving such a Lady
And justifying my Love, I must not fly from't.
Pal.
Arcite, thou art so brave an enemy
That no man but thy Cosen's fit to kill thee,
I'm well, and lusty, choose your Armes.
Arc.
Choose you Sir.
Pal.
Wilt thou exceed in all, or do'st thou doe it
To make me spare thee?
Arc.
If you think so Cosen,
You are deceiv'd, for as I 'm a Soldier.
I will not spare you.
Pal.
That's well said.
Arc.
You'll find it.
Pal.
Then as I'm an honest man and love,
With all the justice of affection
I'll pay thee soundly: This I'll take.
Arc.
That's mine then,
I'll arme you first.
Pal.
Do: Pray thee tell me Cosen,
Where gotst thou this good Armor?
Arc.
'Tis the Dukes,
And to say true, I stole it, doe I pinch you?
Pal.
No.
Arc.
Is't not too heavie?
Pal.
I have worn a lighter,
But I shall make it serve.
Arc.
I'll buckl't close.
Pal.
By any means.
Arc.
You care not for a Grand guard?
Pal.
No, no, we'll use no horses, I perceive
You would fain be at that Fight.
Arc.
I'm indifferent.
Pal.
Faith so am I: Good Cosen, thrust the buckle
Through far enough.
Arc.
I warrant you.
Pal.
My Cask now.
Arc.
Will you fight bare-arm'd?
Pal.
We shall be the nimbler.
Arc.
But use your Gantlets though; those are o'th' least,
Prethee take mine good Cosen.
Pal.
Thank you Arcite.
How doe I look, am I falen much away?
Arc.
Faith very little; Love has us'd you kindly.
Pal.
I'll warrant thee, I'll strike home,
Arc.
Doe, and spare not;
I'll give you cause sweet Cosen.
Pal.
Now to you Sir,
Me thinks this Armor's very like that, Arcite.
Thou wor'st that day the 3. Kings fell, but lighter.
Arc.
That was a very good one, and that day
I well remember, you out-did me Cosen,
I never saw such valour: When you charg'd
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I spur'd hard to come up, and under me
I had a right good horse.
Pal.
You had indeed
A bright Bay I remember.
Arc.
Yes but all
Was vainly labour'd in me, you out-went me,
Nor could my wishes reach you; Yet a little
I did by imitation.
Pal.
More by virtue,
Yor are modest Cosen.
Arc.
When I saw you charge first,
Me thought I heard a dreadfull clap of Thunder
Break from the Troop.
Pal.
But still before that flew
The lightning of your valour: Stay a little,
Is not this peece too streight?
Arc.
No, no, 'tis well.
Pal.
I would have nothing hurt thee but my Sword,
A bruise would be dishonor.
Arc.
Now I'm perfect.
Pal.
Stand off then.
Arc.
Take my Sword, I hold it better.
Pal.
I thank ye: No, keep it, your life lyes on it,
Here's one, if it but hold, I aske no more,
For all my hopes: My Cause and honor guard me.
They bow severall wayes: then advance and stand.
Arc.
And me my love: Is there ought else to say?
Pal.
This only, and no more: Thou art mine Aunts Son.
And that blood we desire to shed is mutuall.
In me, thine, and in thee, mine: My Sword
Is in my hand, and if thou killst me
The gods, and I forgive thee; If there be
A place prepar'd for those that sleep in honor,
I wish his wearie soul, that falls may win it:
Fight bravely Cosen, give me thy noble hand.
Arc.
Here Palamon: This hand shall never more
Come near thee with such friendship.
Pal.
I commend thee.
Arc.
If I fall, curse me, and say I was a coward,
For none but such, dare die in these just Tryalls.
Once more farewell my Cosen.
Pal.
Farewell Arcite.
Fight.
Horns within: they stand.
Arc.
Loe Cosen, loe, our Folly has undone us.
Pal.
Why?
Arc.
This is the Duke, a hunting as I told you,
If we be found, we're wretched, O retire
For honors sake, and safely presently
Into your Bush agen; Sir we shall find
Too many hours to dye in, gentle Cosen:
If you be seen you perish instantly
For breaking prison, and I, if you reveal me,
For my contempt; Then all the world will scorn us,
And say we had a noble difference,
But base disposers of it.
Pal.
No, no, Cosen
I will no more be hidden, nor put off
This great adventure to a second Tryall
I know your cunning, and I know your cause,
He that faints now, shame take him, put thy self
Upon thy present guard.
Arc.
You are not mad?
Pal.
Or I will make th'advantage of this hour
Mine own, and what to come shall threaten me,
I fear less then my fortune: Know weak Cosen
I love Emilia, and in that I'll bury
Thee, and all crosses else.
Arc.
Then come, what can come
Thou shalt know Palamon, I dare as well
Die, as discourse, or sleep: Only this fears me,
The law will have the honor of our ends,
Have at thy life.
Pal.
Look to thine own well Arcite.
Fight again. Horns.
Enter Theseus, Hippolita, Emilia, Perithous and train.
Theseus.
What ignorant and mad malicious Traitors,
Are you? That 'gainst the tenor of my Laws
Are making Battail, thus like Knights appointed,
Without my leave, and Officers of Armes?
By Castor both shall dye.
Pal.
Hold thy word Theseus,
We are certainly both Traitors, both despisers
Of thee, and of thy goodness: I'm Palamon
That cannot love thee, he that broke thy Prison,
Think well, what that deserves; And this is Arcite
A holder Traytor never trod thy ground,
A Falser never seem'd friend: This is the man
Was beg'd and banish'd, this is he contemnes thee
And what thou dar'st doe; and in this disguise
Against this own Edict follows thy Sister,
That fortunate bright Star, the fair Emilia
Whose servant, (if there be a right in seeing,
And first bequeathing of the soul to) justly
I'm, and which is more, dares think her his.
This treacherie like a most trusty Lover,
I call'd him now to answer; If thou be'st
As thou art spoken, great and virtuous,
The true descider of all injuries,
Say, Fight again, and thou shalt see me Theseus
Doe such a Justice, thou thy self wilt envie
Then take my life, I'll wooe thee to't.
Per.
O Heaven,
What more than man is this!
Thes.
I have sworn.
Arc.
We seek not
Thy breath of mercy Theseus, 'Tis to me
A thing as soon to dye, as thee to say it,
And no more mov'd: where this man calls me Traitor,
Let me say thus much; If in love be Treason,
In service of so excellent a Beautie,
As I love most, and in that faith will perish,
As I have brought my life here to confirme it,
As I have serv'd her truest, worthiest,
As I dare kill this Cosen, that denies it,
So let me be most Traitor, and ye please me:
For scorning thy Edict Duke, aske that Lady
Why she is fair, and why her eyes command me
Stay here to love her. And if she say Traytor,
I'm a villain sit to lye unburied.
Pal.
Thou shalt have pity of us both, O Theseus,
If unto neither thou shew mercy, stop
(As thou art just) thy noble ear against us,
As thou art valiant; For thy Cosens soul
Whose 12. strong labors crown his memory,
Let's die together, at one instant, Duke,
Only a little let him fall before me,
That I may tell my Soul he shall not have her.
Thes.
I grant your wish, for to say true, your Cosen
Has ten times more offended, for I gave him
More mercy than you sound, Sir, your offences
Being no more than his: None here speak for'em
For ere the Sun set, both shall sleep for ever.
Hippol.
Alas the pity, now or never Sister
Speak not to be denied; That face of yours
Will bear the curses else of after ages
For these lost Cosens.
Emil.
In my face, dear Sister
I find no anger to'em; Nor no ruin,
The misadventure of their own eyes kill'em;
Yet that I will be woman, and have pitty,
My knees shall grow to'th' ground but I'll get mercie,
Help me dear Sister, in a deed so virtuous,
The powers of all women will be with us,
Most royall Brother.
Hippol.
Sir by our tye of Marriage.
Emil.
By your own spotless honor.
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By that faith,
That fair hand, and that honest heart you gave me.
Emil.
By that you would have pitty in another,
By your own virtues infinite.
Hip.
By valor,
By all the chast nights I have ever pleas'd you
Thes.
These are strange Conjurings.
Per.
Nay then I'll in too: By all our friendship Sir, by all our dangers,
By all you love most, wars; And this sweet Lady.
Emil.
By that you would have trembled to deny
A blushing Maid.
Hip.
By your own eyes: By strength
In which you swore I went beyond all women,
Almost all men, and yet I yielded Theseus.
Per.
To crown all this; By your most noble soul
Which cannot want due mercie, I beg first.
Hip.
Next hear my prayers.
Emil.
Last let me intreat Sir.
Per.
For mercy.
Hip.
Mercy.
Emil.
Mercy on these Princes.
Thes.
Ye make my faith reel: Say I felt
Compassion to'em both, how would you place it?
Emil.
Upon their lives: But with their banishments.
Thes.
You are a right woman, Sister; You have pitty,
But want the understanding where to use it.
If you desire their lives, invent a way
Safer than banishment: Can these two live
And have the agony of love about 'em,
And not kill one another? Every day
They'ld fight about you; Hourly bring your honor
In publique question with their Swords; Be wise then
And here forget 'em; It concerns your credit,
And my o'th equally: I have said they die,
Better they fall byth' Law, than one another.
Bow not my honor.
Emil.
O my noble Brother,
That o'th was rashly made, and in your anger,
Your reason will not hold it, if such vows
Stand for express will, all the world must perish:
Beside, I have another oath, gainst yours
Of more authority, I'm sure more love,
Not made in passion neither, but good heed.
Thes.
What is it Sister?
Per.
Urge it home brave Lady.
Emil.
That you would never deny me any thing
Fit for my modest suit, and your free granting:
I tye you to your word now, if ye fall in't,
Think how you maim your honor;
(For now I'm set a begging Sir, I'm deaf
To all but your compassion how, their lives
Might breed the ruin of my name; Opinion
Shall any thing that loves me perish for me?
That were a cruell wisdom, doe men proyn
The straight young Bows that blush with thousand Blossoms
Because they may be rotten? O Duke Theseus
The goodly Mothers that have groan'd for these,
And all the longing Maids that ever lov'd,
If your vow stand, shall curse me and my Beauty,
And in their funerall songs, for these two Cosens
Despise my crueltie, and cry woe worth me,
Till I'm nothing but the scorn of women;
For Heavens sake save their lives, and banish 'em.
Thes.
On what conditions?
Emil.
Swear'em never more
To make me their Contention, or to know me,
To tread upon the Dukedome, and to be
Where ever they shall travel, ever strangers to one another.
Pal.
I'll be cut a peeces
Before I take this oath, forget I love her?
O all ye gods dispise me then: Thy Banishment
I not mislike, so we may fairly carry
Our Swords, and cause along: Else never trifle,
But take our lives Duke, I must love and will,
And for that love, must and dare kill this Cosen
On any peece the earth has.
Thes.
Will you Arcite
Take these conditions?
Pal.
He's a villain then.
Per.
These are men.
Arcite.
No, never Duke: 'Tis worse to me than begging
To take my life so basely, though I think
I never shall enjoy her, yet I'll preserve
The honor of affection, and dye for her,
Make death a Devill.
Thes.
What may be done? For now I feel compassion.
Per.
Let it not fall again Sir.
Thes.
Say Emilia
If one of them were dead, as one must, are you
Content to take th'other to your husband?
They cannot both enjoy you; They are Princes
As goodly as your own eyes, and as noble
As ever same yet spoke of: Look upon'em,
And if you can love, end this difference,
I give consent, are you content too, Princes?
Both.
With all our souls.
Thes.
He that she refuses
Must dye then.
Both.
Any death thou canst invent Duke.
Pal.
If I fall from that mouth, I fall with favor.
And Lovers yet unborn shall bless my ashes.
Arc.
If she refuse me, yet my grave will wed me,
And Soldiers sing my Epitaph.
Thes.
Make choice then.
Emil.
I cannot Sir, they are both too excellent
For me, a hayr shall never fall of these men.
Hip.
What will become of 'em?
Thes.
Thus I ordain it,
And by mine honor, once again it stands,
Or both shall dye. You shall both to your Countrey,
And each within this month accompanied
With three fair Knights, appear again in this place,
In which I'll plant a Pyramid; And whether
Before us that are here, can force his Cosen
By fair and knightly strength to touch the Pillar,
He shall enjoy her: The other loose his head,
And all his friends: Nor shall he grudge to fall,
Nor think he dies with interest in this Lady:
Will this content ye?
Pal.
Yes: Here Cosen Arcite
I'm friends again, till that hour.
Arc.
I embrace ye.
Thes.
Are you content Sister?
Emil.
Yes, I must Sir,
Ecel both miscarry.
Thes.
Come shake hands again then,
And take heed, as you are Gentlemen, this Quarrell
Sleep till the hour persixt, and hold your course.
Pal.
We dare not fail thee Theseus.
Toes.
Come, I'll give ye
Now usage like to Princes, and to Friends:
When ye return, who wins, I'll settle here,
Who loses, yet I'll weep upon his Beer.
Exeunt.
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